Hydraulic Analogues Illustrating the Charging of a Capacitor and Ohm’s Law: Labs for Online Learning Environments

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, academic institutions across the globe have been forced to move to online learning environments. It has been particularly challenging for the experimental sciences to develop and deliver authentic lab-based experiences. Some of the strategies that have been adopted for first-year physics labs include: providing a video demonstration and supplying data for students to analyze, using online simulations, having students construct simple apparatuses using commonly available materials, collecting data with the aid of a smartphone, and, when dealing with smaller class sizes, providing a custom lab kit to each student. Many institutions have chosen to adopt a blend of the various strategies.